Choosing the best school for your child

Leighton Park has won Senior School of the Year in the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Awards 2023-24 and was also a finalist for Independent Senior School of the Year in the TES Schools Awards 2023. We are an independent day and boarding school in Reading, Berkshire for girls and boys 11-18 years.

Visit Leighton Park

Imagine Better
Take a look +

We challenge our students to imagine a better world. We then support them to develop the character, confidence and determination to be changemakers.

Just imagine

A fully co-ed learning community built on kindness. A school that combines the best academic progress in Berkshire with award-winning personal development and sector-leading pastoral care
A prestigious IB World School, combining strong analytical skills with powerful creative habits of mind to enable our students to thrive in a fast-changing world.

Find out how we prepare our students for a fast-changing world +

Top performing school in England

The UK Government's most recent analysis places Leighton Park as the best performing school in Berkshire for the academic progress achieved by our Sixth Form leavers. We are one of eight schools in England to have always been in the top 100.

Read the news story +

National leader for Future Readiness

We won the ISA national award for Future Readiness 2024, recognising the School as a national leader for preparing students for success in a fast-changing world - with the skills and mindset to thrive.

Future Changemakers +

Multi Award-winning Pastoral care

Our leading pastoral care is underpinned by small tutor groups, first name terms, innovative use of technology and close support for students to develop a strong sense of self.

Pastoral care and wellbeing +

Excellent in all areas - ISI Report

The Independent School Inspectorate (ISI) have awarded Leighton Park 'excellent' in all areas, the highest possible attainment for an independent school.

Inspection Reports +

Meet our Head from September 2025 - Luke Walters
Take a look +

Hear from our incoming Head, Luke Walters, as he speaks to some of our student journalists about his new role at Leighton Park.

Luke comes to the School with a remarkable track record of success from Christ’s Hospital, where he is currently Deputy Head. Luke speaks enthusiastically about his new role, commenting: “I am committed to fostering an environment where kindness, compassion, and a holistic approach to learning are as vital as academic excellence. By nurturing both the hearts and minds of our students, we will ensure they not only succeed in their studies but also grow into thoughtful, resilient individuals, ready to make a positive impact on the world.”

You can read more about his appointment on our news article.

Read the news story +

Visit us

Book a visit or take a look around with our interactive tour

Open Days & Visits

Apply now

Take the next step. Find out what you need to do, and when to apply

Apply now

Contact us

We know that choosing the right school for your child is a big decision

Start your journey

You're unique, so let's explore how we can nurture your talents

Create a Prospectus

Recent Awards

National leader for Future Readiness 2024

Leighton Park has been recognised as a national leader for preparing students to thrive in a fast-changing world, winning the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Award for Future Readiness 2024.

Read about our Changemaker Programme +

Most Inclusive School of the Year 2024

Leighton Park is a Finalist for the Most Inclusive School of the Year Award 2024 in Muddy's Best Schools Awards. We were also Highly Commended in their Giving Something Back award category.

Read about our award-winning pastoral care +

Independent Senior School of the Year 2023

Leighton Park won the prestigious Senior School of the Year award at the Independent Schools Association ISA Awards 2023. We were also a Finalist for the Award for Excellence in Sustainability in the same awards.

Independent Senior School of the Year 2023

Leighton Park has been shortlisted for the prestigious ‘Independent Senior School of the Year’ award in the 2023 TES (Times Education Supplement) School Awards. This is one of the most sought after awards in education, recognising leading practice in the country’s top schools.

Read the news story +

Leighton Park School at a glance

560 girls and boys

27 GCSE options, average class size of 16

A choice of A Levels or International Baccalaureate in Sixth Form, average Sixth Form class size of 7

Over 90 co-curricular options – all but four at no extra cost

Three cooked meals a day included in the fee

Free wraparound care for day students, available until 9.00pm

Exceptional tutor support with tutor groups of 11 and tutors seeing their tutees for dedicated time every day

See what other people are saying

Independent Schools Inspectorate

Excellent pupil and teacher relationships and the exemplary standards of pupil behaviour create the right environment to enable pupils to grow in self-confidence in preparation for the next stages of their lives.

Read our inspection reports +

Good Schools Guide

“Stuck unapologetically to revered, old-fashioned values of encouraging independence of thought, creative thinking, collective spirit, spine and responsibility.”

Read the review +

Muddy Stilettos

"A progressive first-name-only Quaker school with 65 acres in the centre of Reading, with impressive results in STEM and creative subjects."

Read the review +

Independent Schools Association

“Personal development remains at the heart of the school’s ethos as reflection is built into different parts of the day, allowing young people proper opportunity to contemplate progress against their individual targets."

Read the news story +